29 Thursday Nov 2018
Posted in casa azahar, cats, home, throw back thursday, video
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azaharcats, casa azahar, cats, home, tbt, throwback thursday
While looking for something else on the blog earlier this week I came across this video of Morcilla when she was still going by her “milk name” Smudge. And OMG I cannot believe how tiny she was. Anyhow, this was the day she stole my heart.
23 Friday Nov 2018
Posted in casa azahar, cats, home
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One of the (many) things I still miss about Azar are his hugs. When he first came to live with me he wasn’t as affectionate as he became later on, but when he got a bit older, and once Lua passed (because she was my first cat in Spain and always used to sleep on my head), Azar decided to take over her position in our bed. At first he just slept next to my head on the pillow, but then he started to cuddle up.
I have to say that I had never felt so happy as when I would get “Azar hugs” in bed, which maybe sounds weird, but wtf, who cares. It’s true. That this little being went from being terrified of everyone to demanding snibbles and later to being a total hug monster… my heart… he had it.
Then came Morcilla. Born on the same day as Azar… and who also was a bit skittish when she first came to live at Caza Azahar. But these days she has turned into a total cuddle beast, and just recently has also started giving me hugz. By this I mean that she doesn’t just lie on me (yeah yeah I know, to get warm) but just like Azar used to, she actually leans in and hugs me, holding on and nudging me over an over. And OMG I love it so much. Lucky me. 🙂
20 Tuesday Nov 2018
Posted in andalucia, casa azahar, food & drink, friends, home, homecooking
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So the first (and to be honest ONLY) time I had labneh was on a visit to Ronda in July 2012 and stayed at a small guesthouse run by a Lebanese woman called Anahid. She prepared breakfast for us which included fresh coffee and toasted rolls, gorgeous tomatoes with basil and olive oil… and labneh! I was so taken with it that I vowed to make it some day. And well, better late than never. 🙂
The inspiration came when I finally bought a Melitta coffee cone the other day, as I remembered it was very handy for straining yoghurt when I used to make tzatziki back in Toronto. I have since heard from friends on Instagram that paper towels in a colander @panepanna or a bra cup (!!!) @sledpress work just as well as the more standard cheesecloth method, but I like my little coffee cone.
After a couple of days in the cone, today the yoghurt looked ready for the marinade (olive oil, chopped parsley, lemon zest, s&p) and now it will spend another couple days in the fridge. I’m so excited! If it turns out I’ll put the recipe up on Azahar’s Kitchen (though I kind of just gave it to you already). Stay tuned!
14 Wednesday Nov 2018
Posted in casa azahar, cats, home
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… or on my lap, or perched on my shoulder. ❤
10 Saturday Nov 2018
Posted in casa azahar, sevilla
For all those years I lived in the barrio Santa Cruz I thought I was living in the CENTRE of Sevilla. Turns out I was just living next to the Cathedral. The actual KM0 is not far from Las Setas in Plaza Encarnación. Which means I now live more central than ever. And I really notice the difference, in terms of how quick and easy it is to walk pretty much everywhere. Including to my old barrio. This physical centre is also a lot more vibrant and – so far – still a place where locals can afford to live.
How close do you live to the KM0 in your town?
casa azahar 